“Damn.”

“Bark.”

Both Gökbörü and Poyraz gasped in surprise when they saw Grizzon fly back several meters. Poyraz would have laughed seeing how easily Grizzon folded after shit talking but unlike Grizzon he could read the room. Grizzon’s men, at least the free ones looked hesitant to do anything even though they had weapons and Morrigan was unarmed.

Poyraz looked back at the bound beastkin. All of them were awake now. Seeing him look at them some of them shivered. Were they traumatized by him or they were afraid that they would be executed or something? They were this cowardly yet they tried to pull off something like this?

While he felt amused by their stupidity, he realized something. He couldn’t feel Grizzon’s presence anymore. He turned around and he was trying to get up with a mouth full of blood.

“?”

Poyraz frowned when he remembered how he couldn’t feel his presence until he first saw him too. Gut feeling, sixth sense, or just plain instinct. Anyone who trained and fought could acquire the ability to sense people. That was one of the primal abilities any species learned so they could survive in the wilderness. As an elite warrior, Poyraz acquired that ability a long time ago. After coming to this world and learning the control mana, that ability only increased in effectiveness.

Stronger people were easy to detect with the exception of Morrigan who had stealth abilities. While Poyraz knew that Grizzon wasn’t that strong, he could feel that he was closer to Arslan’s power level. Then why did his presence disappear completely when he was out of his sight?

An item?

A skill?

Poyraz’s eyes scanned Grizzon’s body but he wasn’t able to detect anything. He narrowed his eyes. Poyraz made a mental note to discuss this with Morrigan later. He had a bad feeling that this wouldn’t end here and it was crucial to understand Grizzon's abilities and any potential threats he might pose.

“This is your last chance to leave Whifur on your feet. Leave now and never come back. Whifur will never be the home for your rabid ideals.”

Grizzon looked at Morrigan with hostile eyes. He tried to speak but the only thing he could do was spit blood. His men helped him to get up.

“Arslan, Ursara make sure that they leave without making a mess. Guards, make sure they are escorted out without any trouble.”

Börü ordered as he released the bound beastkin. Several armed beastkin guards came forward. While they looked unhappy that they had to leave their armor and weapons and walk half naked a single glance from Morrigan made them walk silently. Poyraz poked Gökbörü with his foot. He turned to look at him. Without saying a word they were able to communicate in a second. Gökbörü jumped into one of the man’s shadows without them noticing.

Morrigan took a deep breath, unclenching her jaw as her anger slowly gave way to a heavy sense of disappointment. She had hoped to bring the beastkin together, but Grizzon's actions had revealed just how deep-seated some of the divisions were.

Poyraz patted her shoulder. She turned around to see him give her a bittersweet smile.

“It happens.”

Morrigan didn’t answer back.

“The show is over, everyone. Go home.”

Amaterasu shooed away the crowd. Meanwhile, Arslan and Ursara had to order Grizzon’s group to move faster. They walked now mostly empty streets with heads bowed down with shame and frustration.

“Don’t try any tricks.”

Arslan said with his hand on his sword. With Arslan’s harsh tone, the group made their way to the walls very quickly. As they reached the walls and exited out of Whifur Grizzon who hadn’t said anything since he got hit by Morrigan spoke up:

“You must be proud of yourself, you traitor. I looked after you for years and for what? You left me at the first opportunity you got. You sold me. I should have let you die with that trash you called father.”

The target of those harsh words was no other than Ursara. Despite Grizzon’s insults and hostile eyes, Ursara looked tall. Arslan looked at Ursara with eyes full of pity and empathy. He knew how a family member talking to you like this felt. He stepped in front of Ursara.

“Fuck off Grizzon. Ursara fought way harder to free our kin than you ever did. You don’t get to insult him, not on my watch. But I am warning you, I am not calm as Morrigan. You won’t be able to walk away with your life like you did with her.”

Arslan released his mana. The guards did the same as they pulled out their weapons. Ursara put his hand on Arslan’s shoulder. Arslan looked at him with surprise but he stepped aside.

“Thank you.”

Ursara whispered. Arslan nodded. Ursara walked closer to Grizzon and faced with his uncle.

“You looked after me? You talk as if you did it out of your goodwill! You made me work after day after day telling me how I had to pay for my own food! You didn’t even teach me what I needed to do and you had the guts to beat me after I did a bad job! Even when I worked hard, even when I did the best, you didn’t even say a “Good job!”. Everyday! Every night! You screamed at me how I was a worthless trash like my father! A father I didn’t even know!”

Ursara breathed rapidly.

“I left? I left you? You were the one who threw me away because I kissed a boy! I can still hear the club breaking on my head when I remember that day!”

Arslan’s grip tightened on his sword. He didn’t know that. Most of the beastkin in Whifur had unpleasant pasts and it was taboo to ask because of that. Arslan was sure that if Morrigan or Börü knew what Grizzon did to Ursara, they wouldn’t have allowed him to enter Whifur let alone form an alliance with him.

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“I was trying to man you up! Of course, your sissy ass couldn’t take it.”

Grizzon opened his mouth to talk more but a sharp wind cut his words. He looked at Arslan and realized where the wind came from. Arslan pulled his swords from their seats.

“That’s enough. I was going to let you walk away. I really was. But I changed my mind. As an enforcer of Whifur and friend of Ursara, I am going to beat you up. Pull your weapon and try not to die, Grizzon.”

The guards accompanying Arslan and Ursara were surprised by Arslan’s calm yet determined tone. Arslan was known for his explosive outbursts even among beastkin but now his tone and face were mostly calm.

Grizzon’s man on the other hand looked at their boss with anticapation. Grizzon clenched his teeth. He knew he had no way of getting out of this situation. He had to fight with Arslan otherwise he would lose all the respect and fear from his group. Their belief was already shaken with the failed plan and Grizzon getting beat up by Morrigan. He should have kept his mouth shut and just walked away to lick his wounds. Now he had to fight him.

The guards of Whifur looked curiously at Arslan.

“It is one-on-one. Don’t interrupt.”

Both the guards and Grizzon’s group took several steps back as Grizzon and Arslan faced each other. Grizzon examined the man in front of him carefully. He knew Arslan, at least he heard his name. A rising star. He was not on Morrigan or Börü’s level but just one look made him nervous, not that he would admit it to himself.

“After all that talk about manhood, you don’t even have the guts to come to me?”

Arslan taunted him.

“You are the challenger, brat.”

Grizzon spat out. Normally this kind of taunting wouldn’t been able to get under his skin but he was already in a foul mood.

Arslan moved. His steps were light yet fast. His twin swords clashed with Grizzon’s twin axes. Sparks flew in the air. They were evenly matched in strength despite the difference in their builds. Both of them could pull their weapons away and strike again yet both pushed against each other’s weapons. Neither of them budged an inch.

That was until Arslan decided to use more mana. Grizzon’s eyes widened with surprise as he was pushed back. He collected his spit in his mouth and spat on Arslan. Spit, mixed with blood hit Arslan’s eyes causing him to take a step back blindly. Grizzon didn’t miss the chance and swung his axe with all his might. Even though his eyes were still closed, Arslan’s training kicked in and he took a cross-guard stance with his sword, blocking the attack. He was dragged by several steps by the impact was he was unharmed.

“Cheap.”

Arslan thought as Grizzon threw one of his axes to him. He hit it, knocking it aside.

At that moment, Grizzon’s presence disappeared from his every sense. This time Arslan’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Wha-“

Before he could gasp in surprise, Grizzon’s axe hit his side, cracking his ribs and sending him flying.

“Hhahahahahahha! You stupid brat! I killed monsters while you were sucking on your mommy’s titties!”

Grizzon howled with pure ecstasy, sure that he won. However, his victory was short-lived as Arslan got up instantly.

“That fucking hurt.”

Grizzon gulped. Arslan wore no armor. Yet he tanked his hit? No, no. He couldn’t be that strong. He must had some kind of skill! Every muscle in his body tightened. He threw his axe to Arslan who swatted it to the side, once again.

Then, once again Grizzon disappeared from Arslan’s every sense. Grizzon smiled, revealing his teeth as he grabbed the axe he threw. This time he would aim for his head.

“Let’s see if you can walk away from this!”

He thought to himself.

But not everything went according to his plan. Arslan’s sword cut through his armor and his chest. Grizzon shivered when he saw Arslan’s sword. Not only did it cut into his chest but it was also covered with… Aura.

Sword Aura.

Something he couldn’t do.

His eyes met with Arslan’s cold eyes. Only then did he notice that Arslan had stopped his swing midway. If he didn’t, Grizzon would have died right here. Grizzon doubled over with pain, dropping his weapons. Even though Arslan stopped halfway, the wound was deep.

Arslan put his swords back to their sheaths and walked back to the city walls. He stopped as he reached back to his group and looked back at Grizzon’s group who was frozen with fear and shock.

“Take your leader and never return. I won’t be merciful next time.”

They hurriedly grabbed their leader and ran into the forest.

“Arslan, I am…”

Arslan waved his hand and stopped Ursara.

“It is okay. You would have done the same.”

The last rays of light hit the city, slowly as Grizzon’s group retreated back.

“Boss, where we should go?”

One of his group asked Grizzon.

“Take me to that bastard, Regal! He gave us the wrong info! He will fucking pay for this!”

His man shallowed his spit.

“Are you sure Boss?”

Regal, the Tyrant Lion. One of the most infamous beastkin of the present age. Was it a good idea to go and try to make him pay, especially since Grizzon the strongest one among them was wounded?

“Are you questioning me?”

Despite nearly all of his group knowing that their boss’s decision was bad, they didn’t dare to tell him that.

“Shouldn’t we take you to a healer first, boss?”

One of them weakly said. He immediately regretted that decision as Grizzon grabbed his throat with a speed that wasn’t expected from a wounded man.

“Am I weak and wounded, you dumb brat? Huh?”

He choked him until his face turned purple. He released the poor man and he coughed.

“No, no, Boss.”

“Then shut up and move.”